Bracelet buckle



June 21, s; Q BlGNEY ET AL BRACELET BUCKLE Filed Feb. 27, 1932 Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE SIDNEY O. BIGNEY AND CARL ARVIDSON, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS T S. O. BIGNEY & COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS BRACELET BUCKLE Application filed February 27, 1932. Serial No. 595,495.

This invention relates to a foldable buckle, and has for its object to provide a construction, the parts of which may be folded to vary the encircling size of the bracelet and to also I@ slide with reference to each other longitudinally to more accurately adjust the encircling size of the bracelet.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a construction which in addition to l0 folding will slide one part along another and be maintain-ed in different adjusted positions by a roller bearing against a catch to prevent expanding movement but which will permit contracting movement by its resilient mounting, permitting it to roll over the next catch in a series of catches.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a roller bearing for maintaining the parts in adjusted position and to afford easy action in adjustment.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the buckle in folded position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the buckle in partially expanded position sho-wing the relative sliding movement of the parts.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the buckle in unfolded position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sliding member which is movable in one of the sections.

Fig. 5 is a central sectional view through the buckle in partially expanded position. Fig. 6 is a section on line 6*(5 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a modified form of construction.

Fig. Sis a sectional view through the roller in the modified form shown in Fig. 7.

In the use of foldable buckles, it is desirable that in addition to the folding of the parts, one on the other, that a more accurate adjustment be obtained by the sliding of the folded parts one on the other, in order that the desired tightening of the strap about the wrist may be had; and in order to accomplish this object we have formed one of the sections in two relatively sliding parts and attached the other sections to one of these parts to fold thereover, and have provided a series of catches and a roller latch to roll over the catches in one direction and to engage these catches and prevent movement in the opposite direction, whereby to hold the parts in adjusted position and these engaging parts are so positioned as to cause disengagement, of the roller latch and catch in unfolding of the sections of the buckle to enlarge the encircling size of a bracelet in which it is positioned and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

With reference to the drawing, 10 designates generally a channel-shaped body section having a bottom wall 11 and side walls 12 with inturned flanges 13. From this bottom wall there are raised a series of catches 14 of which the end catch 15 is somewhat wider to provide stops 16. The slide member 17 isguided in the channel section beneath the flanges 13 and between the side walls 12 and has an open center 18 receiving these catches with abutments 19 at one end thereof to engage the stops and limit the relative sliding movement of this member 17.

To the slide member 17 there is hinged an intermediate section 20, which is provided with flanges 21 to stiffen the same and from the stock of this member 20 there is cut and raised a tongue or latch 22 which is provided with a roller bearing 23, while to the end of this intermediate section there is hinged an end section 24 having flanges 25 to form the same channel shaped in cross section and on these flanges there is. provided detents 26 to snap beneath the edge flange 13 and maintain the sections in folded position while at the same time permitting a sliding of the sections 20 and 24 with the slide member 17 along the channel section 10.

When in folded position the slide member and its sections 20 and 24 may be moved to contracted position by reason of the roller bearing 23 on the tongue 22 rolling up and over each of the raised inclined catches 14 by the resiliency ot the tongue 22 While movement in the opposite direction is prevented by reason of this roller 23 extending against or under the abutment surface 14 of the latches which are inclined, as illustrated in Fig. 5 and prevent expanding movement of the sliding parts.

The end link 28 of a strap or chain parts may be attached to the end sections by reason of the slot 27 in section 10 and connections 29 While an eye 30 is formed on the section 24 and is rolled about the opposite end link 31 of the strap or chain.

In some instances. however, it is convenient to form an end section 32 of a length shorter than the sections which it overlies in order to cause the strap or chain to partly hide the buckle, as we have shown in Fig. 7, in which the section is provided with side Walls 33 with inturned portions 34 to extend about and beneath the edge of the bottom Wall 11 of the channel section 10, which permits the section to be clamped at any position therealong and hold the parts in folded position and in order that the parts will not slide but maintain their desired adjusted relation, we may mount a roller latch 35 on the end of this section and as the same is moved to its desired position it will engage back of any one of the catches and vet by reason of this rolling action the section may be easily rolled along the upwardly inclined catches to release the section or until the desired adjustment is .secured after which it may then be snapped into engagement as above pointed out.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but We desire it to be understood that we reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a foldable buckle, a plurality of sections hinged together to told one over the other, one of said sections comprising a pair of slidable members, another section hinged to one of said members, and cooperating means on said sections to hold said sections in different adjusted positions, said means including a latchA provided with a roller on one section to move from one position of adjustment to another.

2. In a foldable buckle, a pluralityT of sections hinged together to fold one over the other. one of said sections comprising a pair of slidable members. another section-hinged to one of said members. and cooperating means on said sections to hold said sections in different adjusted positions` said means including a latch provided with a roller on one section to move from one position of adjustment to another, when pressure is exerted on said sections to move them in one direction, said means also resisting movement of said sections in the opposite direction.

3. A foldable buckle comprising a plurality of sections foldable one on the other, one of said sections having a pair of slidable members, another section hinged to one ot said members, and cooperating means on the other of said members and said hingedly related section comprising a series of catches and a latch provided with a roller to antifrictionally engage said catches when one member and the section hinged thereto is moved in one direction along the other member and engage any one of said catches to prevent movement in the opposite direction and hold the sections in dierent adjusted positions.

4. A foldable buckle comprising a plurality of sections hinged together to fold one over the other, one end section having a member slidably mounted therein, another section hinged to said slidable member, and provided with a resilient tongue, a series of catches on said end section with any one of which said tongue may engage to hold said sections in different positions of adjustment, and a roller on the end of said tongue to roll as it moves over said catches.

5. A foldable buckle comprising a channelshaped end section having bottom and side walls with inturned flanges, a series of catches on the bottom wall, an open center member slidably mounted in said channel section with an abutment portion at its end, the end catch of said series being of a Width to engage said abutment portion and limit the movement of said member, an interediate section hinged to said member and slidabletherewith, a resilient tongue provided on said intermediate section positioned to engage any one of said catches, said tongue slipping over the catches in one direction upon relative movement of said sections but engaging said catches to prevent movement in the other direction and one end section hinged to said intermediate section, and means to retain said end sections in folded position but permit relative sliding movement thereof.

6. A foldable buckle comprising a channelshaped end section having bottom and side Walls with inturned flanges, a series of catches on the bottom Wall, an open center member slidably mounted in said channel section with an abutment portion at its end, the end catch of said series being of a width to engage said abutment portion and limit the movement of said member, an interediate section hinged to said member and slidable therewith, a resilient tongue provided on said intermediate section positioned to engage any one of said catches, said tongue slipping over the catches in one direction upon relative movementof said sections but engage said catches to prevent movement in the other direction and one end section hinged to said intermediate see` tion and channel shape and of a width to re-` ceive said intermediate section and be positioned between the flanges of the first said end section, and means to retain said end sections in folded position but permit relative sliding movelnent thereof.

7. A foldable buckle comprising a channelshaped end section having bottom and side walls with inturned flanges, a series of catches on the bottom wall, an open center member slidably mounted in said channel section with an abutment portion at its end, the end catch of said series being of a width to engage said abutment portion and limit the movement of said member, an intermediate section hinged to said member and slidable therewith, a resilient tongue provided on said intermediate section positioned to engage any one of said catches, a roller on said tongue to roll over the catches in one direction upon relative movement of said sections but engage said catches to prevent movement in the other direction and one end .section hinged to said intermediate section, and means to retain said end sections in folded position but permit relative sliding movement thereof.

8. A foldable buckle comprising a channe1- shaped end section having bottom and side Walls with inturned flanges, a series of catches raised from the stock of the bottom wall, an open center member slidably mounted in said channel section with an abutment portion at its end, the end catch of said series being of a width to engage said abutment portion and limit the movement of said member, an intermediate section hinged to said member and slidable therewith, a resilient tongue provided on said intermediate section positioned to engage any one of said catches, said tongue slipping over the catches in one direction upon relative movement of said sections but engage said catches to prevent movement in the other direction and one end section hinged to said intermediate section, and means to retain said end sections in folded position but permit re1- ative sliding movement thereof.

9. A foldable buckle comprising a channelshaped end section having bottom and side walls with inturned fianges, a series of catches raised from the stock of the bottom wall, an open center member slidably mounted in said channel section with an abutment portion at its end, the end catch of said series being of a width to engage said abutment portion and limit the movement .of said member, an intermediate section hinged to said member and slidable therewith, a resilient tongue provided on said intermediate section positioned to engage any one of said catches, a roller on said tongue to roll over the catches in one direction upon relative movement of said sections but engage said catches to prevent movement in the other direction and one end section hinged to said intermediate section and channel shape and of a width to receive said intermediate tures.

SIDNEY O. BIGNEYM CARL ARVIDSON. 

